Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Sweet William

justflowersjustflowers Posts: 143
in Plants
I sowed Sweet William seed early Summer and planted them out in July with a view to them flowering next Summer, however, some of them are starting to flower already.  If I cut the flowers off, will they flower next year as well?  Is there anything I can do to get them to flower next year?  I did plant them out fairly close together - would this have made a difference?  Thanks in anticipation!

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I fnd they usually flower for 2 or 3 years, though the first year give the best display.
    They also self seed so when they do flower, you should see more pop up later in the year.
    If you cut the flowers off you'll have stronger plants that will flower next year.
    If you leave them, I'd guess they're still flower next year, but not as much.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • RedwingRedwing Posts: 1,511
    I agree with @Pete.8. I usually dead head them after flowering and I think this encourages them to carry on so I would say allow them to flower now and when they are finished dead head them.
    Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
  • justflowersjustflowers Posts: 143
    Thank you - good tips.  I'll enjoy this batch of flowers - I love using them for cutting - and hope to get a further supply from the same plants next year.  I didn't realise that they carried on for several years and am regretting pulling up my healthy plants from 2021 earlier this year - also didn't realise that they self seed - though as I pick all the blooms as  cut flowers, that probably wouldn't work for me.  Really helpful, thanks both.
  • Mrs-B3-Southampton,-HantsMrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants Posts: 732
    I found out by accident that Sweet Williams last for longer than 1 year and that was because something grew in front and I missed clearing them.
    Southampton 
  • justflowersjustflowers Posts: 143
    I'll definitely be leaving mine in until they stop flowering from now!
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    They give a great display year 1, the next year they're ok, but nothing special, the 3rd year they're barely worth keeping.
    So it's best to treat them as biennials, leave just a few flowers to let seed form, then you can either sow it in trays or pots or let it drop. They'll then grow during the summer and provide flowering plants the following year

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • justflowersjustflowers Posts: 143
    Thanks @Pete.8 .
Sign In or Register to comment.